Last year, the Indian Supreme Court reversed the 2009 lower court decision, opting to uphold India’s 1861 sodomy statute, which prohibits “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.”

In India, as in many countries, the story of LGBT rights can be described as moving two step forward, one step back.

Now, one of India’s famous movie actresses is trying to further fuel the gay-rights debate.

Celina Jaitly, a Bollywood star and former Miss Universe runner-up, has released
a video called “The Welcome”
that promotes gay rights. The video was produced by the United Nations Campaign for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality.

Jaitly has been an outspoken critic of the Indian law that criminalizes homosexuality, appearing on TV channels to debate opponents and taking part in gay pride demonstrations.

In the video, a family awaits the arrival of a young man, who is bringing his partner to meet his relatives for the first time. When that partner turns out to be a man, he's met with wide-eyed stares.

As the men hold hands, Jaitly dances and sings to an elderly woman:

"It is a new look. It’s a new attitude.

You might wonder where the old way of living has gone.

But who is worried about who likes what,

As long as in the world of love two people want to be with each other."

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